Home

Explore

Popular Services -

My Favourites -

My Recently Viewed -

  • No other pages viewed

accessibility -

Set Text Size

Small
Standard
Large
Extra Large

Set Contrast

AAAA

Seeing Sense

Seeing Sense - Information & Support

Devon Sensory Team - ROVIs:

Rehabilitation Officers with Visually Impaired people. See ROVIs

Local Organisations:

Devon County Association for the Blind (DCAB)

DCAB offer:

  • A well-equipped resource centre and shop where items can be tried and purchased.
  • Low vision assessments (e.g. magnifiers*)
  • Annual holidays with sighted guides
  • Training for the staff of local organisations
  • Quarterly newsletter in braille, large print or on tape
  • Advice on voluntary visiting Services
  • Welfare and benefits information
  • Advice, help and support to the blind and visually impaired people of Devon

The centre / shop is open Tues - Fri 10am -1pm.

(*If you wish to be assessed for a magnifier an appointment must be made.)

Exeter Society for the Blind

  • c/o Mrs P Fay
    Tel: 01392 271364

Exeter Society for the Blind is for people who are blind or partially sighted, living in the city of Exeter.

  • Meetings are held on the last Friday of each month.
  • Social events (Oct - Apr)
    and
  • coach outings (May - Sept).
  • Quarterly newsletter with anecdotes, helpful advice and details of events. Sent in large print or, if requested, on tape.
  • Regular home visits to Members who are housebound or in residential homes.
  • Active Members may obtain a bus pass to travel free on Exeter buses (9a.m. - 4.30p.m.). Issued annually on 1st July. A contribution towards the cost is requested.
  • Grants to buy equipment (up to a maximum of £250) may be considered for partially sighted and blind people living in Exeter.

Age Concern Devon

Age Concern offers an enabling service for older people using volunteers with a knowledge of the problems of visual impairment.

The aim is to enable blind and visually impaired people to:

  • Gain greater access to their community
  • To participate in leisure or social activities, sport or entertainment
  • To provide sighted input to enable them to take part in home based activities (excluding domestic or personal care)

Social clubs for people with a visual impairment

For information about a club in your area, contact the Devon County Association for the Blind (DCAB) or, your ROVI:

Torch Trust for the Blind (Devon)

  • Devon Co-ordinators: Tel: 01626 367489 Mr and Mrs Colley
  • Barnstaple. Tel: 01271 830196 - Mr Williams
  • Exeter. Tel: 01392 277737 - Mrs Cave
  • Newton Abbot. Tel: 01626 367489 - Mr and Mrs Colley
  • Plymouth. Tel: 01752 340774 - Mr and Mrs Collins

A non-denominational Christian Fellowship offering friendship and help to those who are visually impaired. Holidays, house parties and a free library service. Literature in Braille, giant print and on cassette tape.

SENSE South West

SENSE is a national organisation that campaigns with and for people who have a sensory disability. Its priority is anyone who is Deafblind. That is, anyone who has a severe impairment of both vision and hearing, resulting in unique and special needs. People with a sensory impairment plus other disabilities are included. Sense West offers advice, support, information and services.

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA)

National Organisations:

GDBA (Head Office)

Action for Blind People

British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF)

National Federation of the Blind

As an organisation of people who are blind or partially sighted we are uniquely qualified to campaign for better service provisions and an enhanced quality of life for all blind and partially sighted people.

Also has a helpful audio-cassette Eye Spy for people with visual impairments who have recently lost their sight.

Partially Sighted Society

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

BT Free Directory Enquiries

  • Tel: 195

To register for BT free Directory Enquiries either, telephone 195 and ask for the registration department or contact your local ROVI.

BT Talking telephone bills

  • Tel:150

Contact BT to arrange for your telephone bill to be read over the phone before posting it to you. BT can also send your bill in large print or braille.

RNIB / BT Big Button Telephone

A Big Button telephone (with amplifier) can be rented or bought from BT. It is also available to buy from the RNIB and other outlets. See Seeing Sense - Equipment.

British Gas and SWEB

Ask for free advice on marking appliances and for free audio cassettes about special services for people with a visual impairment. You can also arrange for meter readers to have passwords to prove their identity.

South West Water

  • Tel 01392 443432

Water meter reading and bill reading services are available to people with a visual impairment.

Services for People with a Visual Impairment

Organisations now have to provide information, bills and letters in accessible formats. Many banks for example, will arrange for you to receive large print statements and may provide you with a cheque book guide.

do more with this page ...

Devon County Council, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD

Our contact numbers | Tel: 0845 155 1015 | Fax: 0845 155 1003 | SMS: 80011 (please start all messages with the word Devon).

E-mail: customer@devon.gov.uk